The Sex Pistols built a brand as a sneering middle finger to the establishment. And for a while, it worked like a charm.
They cursed on television, pissed off the British monarchy, and turned themselves into the most notorious band in rock and roll.
But here's the thing about building your reputation on chaos. Eventually, people expect you to deliver it. And when the controversy becomes more important than the music, you've created a monster you can't control.
In January 1978, the Sex Pistols brought that monster to America.
Seven shows. Twelve days. Cowboy bars, flying beer cans, angry audiences, and a band that was coming apart at the seams.
By the time they reached San Francisco, Johnny Rotten had just one question left: "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"
Tonight on Prisoners of Rock and Roll, we're talking about the disastrous American tour that destroyed the Sex Pistols.
Because sometimes, when you spend your career telling the world to piss off, the world eventually tells you to piss off right back.
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